Garage door operators



July 17, 1956 c. JOHNSON ET AL 2,755,081

GARAGE DOOR OPERATORS Filed Oct. 8, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet l 4- '1NVENT0R$ CLARENCE JOHNSON Juuus E. RASOLETTI ATTORNEYS July 17, 1956 c. JOHNSON ETAL GARAGE DOOR OPERATORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 8, 1951 INVENTORS CLARENCE JOHNSON J'uuus E. RASOLETTI ATTORNEYS July 17, 1956 c. JOHNSON ETAL GARAGE DOOR OPERATORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 8, 1951 INVENTORS CLARENca JOHNSON J'uuus E. RA5OLETT! M%Q ATTORNEYS GARAGE DOOR OPERATORS Filed Oct. 8, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 uu ul hul l \.11

INVENTORS CLARENCE JOHNSON (J'uuus E RASOLETTI BY M ATTORNEYS July '17, 1956 c. JOHNSON ET AL GARAGE DOOR OPERATORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 8. 1951 S R m 0 T m 6 9 W 2 m m. u z z 4 0 9 z 4 x 0 0 2 a 43 w 5, 3 W 80 5 0 (a m 4/\ ,z 5 a R u 6 0 2 3 CLARENCE JOHNSON Juuus E. ROSALETTI ATTORNEYS July 17, 1956 Filed 001;. 8. 1951 C. JOHNSON ETAL GARAGE DOOR OPERATORS s sheets-sheet e I N VENTORS CLARENCE JOHNSON Juuus E. RASOLETTI BY %9 O@W ATTORNEYS nited States Patent Ofice 7 2,755,081 Patented July 17, 1956 GARAGE noon. orunarons Clarence Johnson, South Euclid, and .iulius E. Rasoielti, Cleveland Heights, 01150 Application @ctober 8', 1951, Serial No. 250,256

21 Claims, (Cl. 268-59) This invention relates to improvements in. door operating. devices and more particularly to improvements in drive arrangements for moving a door, such as a garage door, between a closed position and open position along a supporting guide way for guiding its movement between these two positions.

Prior art devices for operating garage doors may be generally divided into four classes: those employing a.

motor driven carriage mounted on separate parallel guide rails centrally or" the door and coupled to the door in such a manner that movement of the carriage will eiiectv opening or closing of the door; a motor drive unitmounted on the doors and 'drivingly coupled to separate, special stationary racks mounted adjacent the doors; those employing a fixed motor drive unit mount and drive cables connected to the door and passing over suitably positioned pulleys; and those employing a fixed motor drive unit mount and cooperating drive chains carried by the door and drivingly engaging a sprocket wheel on the motor drive unit; UnitedStat'es Letters Patent No. 1,817,909, issued August 11, 1931' to H. C. Blodgett, United States. Letters Patent no; 1,868,149, issued July 19,. 1932' to- F. M. Nunez, No. 2,000,515, issued May 7, 1935 to L. H.. Gross, and United States Letters Patent No. 1,878,796, issued September 20; 1932 to F. L. Morse et a1 disclose door operating devices which are, respectively, typical of those four general types of door operating devices.

Certain disadvantages of these prior art door operating. devices are: the difiiculty of initial installation which requires much time of a skilled installation. crew (common to all classes), the relative inaccessible location: of the motor drive unit which results from the necessity of providing a free'path of movement for the door (common to all classes), the impositive drive arrangements usually employed (common to the first and third classes) and the necessity of the provision of mounts for the drive unit or the cooperating racks, independent of the door and door guide rails (common to all classes), which are difiicult to support, because such mounts must not interfere with the movement of the door, must be accurately aligned relative to the door and its guide rails and usually must be so located as to take up valuable space.

Further disadvantages of many of the forms of such prior art devices are the necessity of extremely accurate alignment of the numerous relatively moving parts, the necessity of frequent adjustment of these relatively moving parts, and the inapplicability of such prior art devices to numerous structures due to the lack of the necessary space above or beside the door in many building structures for the mounting of a motor drive unit or independent tracks or racks.

It is, accordingly, a primary object of this invention to provide a door operating device for moving a door between a closed position and an open position which is of an improved, novel and simplified construction adapted for substantially universal applicability, economical manufacture and ease of installation for even untrained personnel, the various parts of which are conveniently mounted for servicing, and which requires substantially no adjustment after initial installation.

It is a further important object of this invention. to provide a door operating deviceuniversally applicable to guid'eway supported doors which includes a pair of coact'ing drive elements, the motor driven one of which is mounted onfthe door and the other of which is fixed longitudinally along a portion of a door guide rail so that no additional space or mountings within the building over or beside the door are required.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified positive drive door operating device universally applicable for moving guideway supported doors between their open and closed positions with a traction track secured longitudinally alongone. of the guide rails for the door and a coacting motor driven traction wheel resiliently urged into positive drivingengagement with the traction. track.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplified drive means for moving a door between open and closed positions whichis effective to. automatically lock the door in. either of these posi-. tions against manipulation independent of the drive means.-

A further specific object of this invention is the. provision of an improved motor drive unit for a door operaating device adapted for driving a door between its. open and" closed positions while preventing movement of the door independently of the drive and. thus provi'de a lock for the door.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide for use with a garage door motor drive unit a traction track universally usable for overhead and sliding. doors which. is longitudinally conformable to the guide rails. guiding-the movement of the door; between an openposition and a closed position and which includes longitudinally spaced attachment means of suitable construction for securing the traction track to the guide rail. without inhibiting movement. of the door.

In door. operating devices, one important consideration is the provi'sionof means for stopping movement of the door in event an. obstruction is present in the path of door. movement; Known prior art devices have relied upon overload deviceswhich interrupt a mechanicaldrive connection or which disable the electrical power circuit of the drive motor in the event of an overload. Such prior art devices do not stop the door with sufiicient rapidity, may be insensitive to fragile obstructing objects, and require frequent adjustment for proper functioning. A further disadvantage of such devices is that they in terrupt the drive when full power is needed. For example, if adoor section becomes warped slightly result ing inan increased. frictional drag on the door or if the door becomes frozen to the ground in the winter, an additional load. is placed upon the drive which. will cause; such overload devices to function and interrupt the drive. at a time when full power is needed.

Accordingly it is a further important object of this. invention to provide a door operating device including. a device for detecting the presence of an obstruction in the path of door movement and a drive mechanism for the door in which full power is available at all times but which is of such construction that door movement may be arrested almost instantaneously upon the detecting of. an obstructing object.

A further specific object of this invention is to provide a motor drive unit for a door operating device adapted to positively drive a door between its open and closed positions with means for arresting movement of the. door instantaneously when an obstruction in the path of door movement is encountered.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a door operating device including a positive motor powered door drive mechanism, a brake mechanism for arresting movement of the drive mechanism, and control means operable to simultaneously deenergize the drive motor and apply a brake upon the detecting of an obstruction in the path of the door.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the appended claims as the detailed description thereof proceeds in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an interior perspective view of a corner of a building structure showing a door therefor, which is of a type formed of a plurality of hingedly connected sections extending transversely to the path of door movement, supported between guide rails for guiding its movement between a vertical closed position and a horizontal open position and provided with a preferred form of door operating device constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the guide rails for the door of Figure 1 having a traction track constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention secured thereto;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a door guide rail provided with the traction track and securing clamp therefor taken substantially along the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the obstruction sensing device of this invention secured to the bottom edge of the door taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of the motor drive circuit of a motor drive unit of the door operating device of this invention;

Figure 6 is a partially sectioned plan view of a preferred embodiment of the motor driving unit of the door operating device of this invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the motor drive unit taken substantially along the line 77 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the motor drive unit of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the motor drive unit taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a partially sectioned perspective view of a motor drive unit similar to that of Figures 6 to 9 but having a modified drive disengaging mechanism;

Figure ll is an end view of a further modified motor drive unit embodying the principles of this invention; and

Figure 12 is a plan view of the motor drive unit of Figure 11.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1 wherein an interior corner of a building structure, such as a garage, is shown, a door 20, shown in its vertical closed position, is disclosed, for example, as formed of a plurality of hingedly connected, horizontally extending sections designated 22, 2-4, 26, and 28. A guide rail 30 of substantially L-shape in longitudinal configuration formed by a vertical leg 32 and a horizontal leg 34 joined by a large radius, curved portion 36 is mounted in fixed relation with the building structure at the opposite end of the door in parallel relation to the guide rail 30.

As is more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, guide rail is of generally C-shape cross section, having a trough shaped bottom portion 38 and straight top and side walls 40 and 42. Referring again to Figure l, a pair of rollers 44 are mounted on the end of each of the door sections so as to ride in the channel defined by guide rail 30. Rollers are similarly provided on the opposite ends of each of the sections which ride in the similar guide rail at the opposite end of the door.

The door 20 is thus supported between and guided for movement by these guide rails as it moves from the illustrated vertical closed position to a horizontal open overhead position in which it extends between the two parallel horizontal legs 34 of the guide rails. The structure thus far described is that of one form of conventional overhead door to which this invention is applicable. The invention, now to be described in detail, is equally applicable to other forms of door structures and mountings, the sole limitation being that the door he of the guideway mounted t e.

l'he door operating device of this invention comprises a longitudinally flexible, traction track 46 fixed longitudinally along a portion of one of the guide rails and a motor driven, rotatable traction wheel 48 positively engaged therewith and mounted on the door. In this description and the claims appended thereto, we use the terms traction track, traction wheel positively engaged therewith and expressions of similar import to define all forms of positive drive in which a rotatable wheel positively engages a linear or curvilinear track, as for example, the engagement of a pinion with a rack, a sprocket with a chain, or a cogwheel with a cograil as distinguished from purely frictionally engaged elements.

Traction track 46 is longitudinally conformable to the guide rail on which it is mounted and in the disclosed embodiment is formed of a plurality of conventionally interconnected chain links 50 as best shown in Figure 2. Traction track 46 is secured to the guide rail 30 in any suitable manner but preferably by a plurality of longitudinally spaced clamps 52 each formed of a pair of coacting relatively movable clamp jaws 54 and 56 and a clamping element 58 disclosed in Figure 3 as a nut 60 and a screw 62. Jaws 54 and 56 define a substantially C-shaped clamp which surrounds guide rail 30 of C-shaped cross-section. The outer ends of jaws 54 and 56 are formed respectively, with hook-shaped ends 64 and 66, which hook over the corresponding edges of the guide rail to firmly grip the guide rail without producing deformation thereof but provided suificient clearance for free passage of the roller support shafts, Spaced ones of the chain links 50 are provided on each side with integral cars 68 to which the clamps 52 are secured as by rivets 70. The shape of the clamps 52 will, of course, vary with the cross sectional shape of the guide rail 30, the disclosed clamp having been found to be extremely satisfactory for guide rails of C-shaped cross section. Suitable spacers 69 are preferably provided to assure adequate clearance between the track 46 and guide rail 30 to permit desired entry of the wheel driving formations. It, however, will be appreciated that any other suitable means may be provided to assure this spacing.

A preferred form of the motor drive unit 71 is illustrated in detail in Figures 6 to 9. The motor drive unit 71 includes a pivotal motor mount. This mount is formed of a base structure 72 adapted to be rigidly secured to the door and a motor mounting plate 74 pivotally mounted thereon and resiliently biased toward the base structure 72 and the cooperating traction track 46. Base structure 72 in the disclosed embodiment is formed of a pair of elongated flat bars 76 and 78, each of which is provided with screw mounting holes 80. The bars 76 and 78 are fixed in spaced parallel relation by flat cross bars 82 and 84 secured thereto at each end in any suitable manner such as by welding. The opposite end portions 86 and 88 of cross bar 82 are turned upwardly at right angles to the intermediate portion and provided with coaxially aligned apertures through which a motor mounting plate, pivot shaft 90 extends. The axial position of shaft 90 is suitably fixed by suitable Washers 92 and cotter pins 94 disposed at each end exteriorly of the upturned ends 86 and 88 of bar 82.

The motor mounting plate 74 is in the form of an inverted shallow channel having depending side walls 96 and 98 joined integrally by a base portion 100. C0- axially aligned apertures are formed through the side walls 96 and 98 at one end thereof through which the shaft 90 extends to provide a pivotal connection between the motor mounting plate 74 and the base structure 72.

As previously mentioned, mounting plate 74 is resiliently biased about shaft 90 toward the base structure 72'. To produce this relation, a pair of bolts 102 and 1114 (Figures 6 and 8) are provided, the heads of which are fixed in extruded apertures formed through the ends of bars 76 and 78 and the shanks of which extend through large aligned apertures in the cross bar 84 and in the base portion 100 of plate 74. The shanks of these bolts protruding from cross bar 84 are surrounded respectively by compression springs 166 and 168, which are adjustably' compressed respectively between washers 111 and 1 12 on bolts 162 and 104 and the top surface of base portion 1% by nuts 114 and 1 16 threadedly engaged, respectively, with the threaded shanks of bolts 1412 and 104. Springs 196 and 108 bias mounting plate 74 toward base structure 72 while permitting relative pivotal movement therebetween.

A suitable reversible drive motor 118 is mounted upon the base portion 100 of mounting plate 74 in a conventional manner (not shown). Motor 118 has a shaft 126 to which a worm 122 is secured as by a pin 124. v

A housing 126 formed of a pair of channel shaped members 128 and 136 secured together in right angularly disposed relation as by screws 132 and mounted on the depending side walls of the motor mounting plate 74 over the end of the motor shaft 121) as by screws 134.

An output shaft 135 for the drive unit 71 is journalled for rotation in aligned apertures formed through the opposi-te side walls of member 128 by plain flanged bearings 136 and 138 secured thereto as by set screw attached collars 140. A Worm wheel 142 is secured for rotation with the drive unit output shaft 135 centrally thereof by a pin 144 and is in constant meshing engagement with form 122 so that rotation of motor shaft 120 imparts rotation to output shaft 135 through the drive train formed by worm 122 and worm wheel 142. It will be noted that this drive train is of a non-overrunning type so that the output shaft 135 is locked in position unless the shaft 126 is driven, that is shaft 135 cannot drive shaft 120. The traction wheel 4%, which meshes with traction track 46 under influence of springs 1116 and 108, is secured to the outer extremity of output shaft 135 and thus is driven by motor 118 through gear train 122, 142 and shaft 135.

In order that the movement of the door may be rapidly arrested, a brake is provided which is effective on shaft 120, the input to the drive train located between shafts 126 and 135. By this arrangement, the brake merely overcomes the inertia of the motor rotor to bring the drive to a stop and is' not forced to overcome the inertia of the door also.

In the preferred embodiment, a brake drum 145 having a hub 146 fixed centrally thereto is mounted on shaft 120 and secured thereto by a pin 148. As is best shown in Figure 9, a brake band 150 surrounds brake drum 145 for coaction therewith to arrest rotation of the motor shaft 120. To this end, the portion of the base portion 104 of motor mounting plate 74 below brake drum 145 is formed with a pair of transversely spaced, upturned ears 152 and 154 stamped therefrom leaving, respectively, apertures 156 and 158 in the base portion 109. One endof brake band 150 is suitably fixed to ear 154 by screws 16b. The opposite end of brake band 150 is movable to efiect engagement and disengagement of the brake band 156 with the brake drum 145.

Bars 152 and 154 are formed with coaxially aligned apertures through which a rod 162 is supported for free longitudinal movement. A block 164, to which the movable end of brake band 156 is fixed by screws 166, is fixed to rod 162 by a pin 168. A compression spring 170 surrounds rod 162 and is compressed between ear 152 and block 164 to normally bias the brake band into engagement with the brake drum 145.

Disengagement of the brake band 156 from the brake drum 145 is effected by moving rod 162 to the left as viewed in Figure 9 against the compression of spring 170. Thismovement of rod 162 is controlled by a solenoid 172 having a movable T-shaped plunger 174 connected to rod. 162 through the intermediary of a linkage now' to be described.

Solenoid 172 is mounted on one side of motor mounting plate 74 by screws 176 and held in spaced relation thereto by spacers 178. Upon energization of solenoid 172 in a manner to be described presently, the T-shaped plunger 174 will move through a limited distance to the left as viewed in Figure 8. Plunger 174 is connected by a link 1811 and a bell crank 182 (Figure 6) to the rod 162 so that leftward movement of plunger 174 as viewed in Figures 6 and 8 will produce leftward movement of rod 162 as viewed in Figure 9 against the compression of spring 179 to effect disengagement of the brake band from the brake drum 145. Bell crank 182 is pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 184 conveniently formed by a bolt, as shown in Figure 7, fixed exteriorly of the base portion 101 of the mounting plate 74- and held in fixed spaced parallel relation thereto by spacer 186, washer 188, and a nut 189 threadedly engaged with the end of shaft 184. One end of rod 162 is slotted as shown at 196 in Figure 9. The end of one arm of bell crank 182 lies within the slot 190 and is connected to. rod 162 by a pin 192. The other arm of bell crank 182 is connected to link 1813 by a pin 194. As is best shown in Figures 6 and 8, link 180 is formed centrally with a ninety degree twist, extends within a recess 196 formed in the end of plunger 174, and is articulated thereto by a pin 198.

Energization of solenoid 172 attracts plunger 174, pulls the link 130, causes bell crank 182 to pivot about shaft 184, and pulls rod 162 against the compression of the spring 171) to release the brake drum 145 from engage ment by the brake band 151). As will appear presently, the motor 118 and solenoid 172 are energized simultaneously so that, when the motor is energized, the brake is released and the brake is applied as soon as the motor is de-energized. Upon de-energization of the solenoid- 172, compression spring is effective to restore operating linkage for rod 162 to the normal brake-on position.

When the drive unit is mounted on the door, as shown in Figure 1, the traction wheel 48 is biased. into positive driving engagement with the traction track 46 by the compression springs 166 and 108. As the traction wheel 48 passes the curved portion of the traction track 46 in moving the door between its open and closed positions, the motor mounting plate 74 is free to shift about the shaft 90 in accordance with the shifting relative positions of the curved guide rail 30 and the planar panel 22 upon which drive unit 71 is mounted so that the traction wheel is resiliently held in constant mesh with the traction track.

As previously mentioned, so long as the traction wheel and traction track are engaged, door 21) is locked against movement independent of the drive unit. In order to render independent manipulation of the door possible when necessary in event of a power failure or need for repair of the door operating mechanism, a manually operable disengaging mechanism is provided, one form of which is best shown in Figures 6 to 8. This mechanism comprises a not 266 Welded interiorly of the housing 126 on member 1311 and a long threaded member 202 extending through an aligned aperture formed in member 136 and threadedly engaged with nut 260. The lower end of member 2112 bears upon the cross bar 84, as is best shown in Figure 8. A handle 2194 is provided at the upper end of member 2112 to facilitate manual manipulation of member 262. Member 292 serves as a screw jack by which the motor mounting plate 74 can be pivoted about shaft 96 in opposition to the springs 1116 and 1.138 sufiiciently to disengage the traction Wheel from the traction track 46 and thus permit movement of the door independent of the door operating device.

A modified drive disengaging mechanism is shown in Figure 10. In this form, a lever 208 is pivotally mounted on the channel member 128 at 210 and is provided with a cam surface 212 which bears directly on the upper surface of cross bar 84 and is suitably shaped so that, by shifting lever 208 about its pivot 210, motor mounting plate 74 can be pivoted about shaft 90 in opposition to springs 106 and 108 to likewise etlect disengagement of the traction wheel from the traction track.

In order to effect automatic stoppage of the door operating device in both its open and closed positions, limit switches are provided in convenient locations on the door as shown in Figure l. The upward movement limit switch 214 is mounted on the channel member 128 of the motor drive unit at the edge adjacent the traction wheel 48 as is also shown in Figures 6 and 8. The downward movement limit switch 216 is mounted on door 20 centrally of the bottom panel 28 above the lower edge thereof. Both switches are of the conventional micro switch design having reciprocable switch actuating plungers 218 and 220 spring biased outwardly to the closed position of the switch contacts.

Actuation of plunger 218 of limit switch 214 is effected by a stationary cam member 222 (Figure l) fixed to the guide rail 30 near the upper end of track 46 in the path of movement of the plunger 218 to push it in, open switch 218, and terminate operation of the drive unit when the door 20 reaches its upward limit of travel.

The downward movement limit switch 216 is actuated by an obstruction sensing bar 224 mounted along the lower edge of panel 28, and having a lower portion depending below the lower edge of panel 28. As is best shown in Figure 4 bar 224 is mounted on the bottom edge of panel 28 by a plurality of spaced shouldered wood screws 226 which pass through vertically elongated slots 228 formed therein and are screwed into the panel 28. Bar 224 is thus guided by the screw heads and the adjacent surface of the shouldered portions of screws 226 for limited free vertical movement relative to panei 28. When the lower edge of bar 224 strikes an obstruction or the floor of the building structure, bar 224 will be lifted from the position shown by phantom lines on Figure 4 to the upper position shown in full lines. The plunger 220 lies in the vertical path of movement of bar 224 so that, when bar 224 moves upward, plunger 220 will be pressed into the position shown in full lines in Figure 4 from that shown in phantom lines to open switch 216. It will, of course, be understood that the extent of movement of plunger 220 is exaggerated in Figure 4 for purposes of illustration since only slight movement of such micro switches is effective to open the circuit therethrough.

Bar 224 and the plunger 220 are shown in full lines in Figure 4 in their upper position to correspond to the closed position of door 20 in Figure l. the position that bar 224 and plunger 220 assume in normal open positions of door 20 being indicated by phantom lines.

The control circuit for the motor 118 and brake actnating solenoid 172- is shown in Figure 5, the positions of limit switches 214 and 216 being that assumed by them when the door is closed as illustrated in Figure 1.

For illustrative purposes only, the control circuit is shown as actuated by a manually operable triple pole double throw switch 230. Switch 230 may be mounted within a locked housing on the exterior of the building structure as for example, if the structure is a garage, in such a location that the operator of a vehicle may unlock the housing and operate switch 230 by merely reaching from the window of his automobile; thus eliminating the need of leaving the vehicle. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that means may be provided by automatically actuating the switch remotely by radio, magnetic attraction, sound, or light through the use of relays or other circuit closing devices.

The nine terminals of this switch 230 have been designated 1 to 9 in the drawing and will be referred to in the following description respectively as 230-1, 230-2,

230-3, etc. Power is supplied to this control circuit from any suitable electrical power source (not shown) by input terminals 232 and 234. These terminals 232 and 234 are connected directly to terminals 230-4 and 230-6 of the switch 230. Terminals 230-5 and 230-6 are connected to the starting winding motor terminals 236 and 238 of motor 118. The terminals 230-8 and 230-9 are connected to the solenoid 172 and to the running winding terminals 240 and 242 of motor 118 in parallel with solenoid 172. A jumper wire 244 interconnects terminals 230-2 and 230-9 and a jumper wire 246 interconnects terminals 230-3 and 230-8. Upward movement limit switch 214 is connected between terminals 230-1 and 230-2 and downward movement limit switch 214 is connected between terminals 230-7 and 230-8.

In order to open the door, switch 230 is thrown to its upper position to electrically interconnect terminal 230-4 with 230-1, 230-5 with 230-2, and 230-6 with 230-3. In this position, a circuit is completed to the starting winding of motor 118 from line terminal 232, through switch terminals 230-4 and 230-1, limit switch 214, switch terminals 230-2 and 230-5, motor terminal 236, the motor starting winding (not shown), motor terminals 238 and switch terminal 230-6 to the other line terminal 234.

A circuit to the motor running winding is completed as follows: from line terminal 232, through switch terminals 230-4, and 230-1, limit switch 214, switch terminal 230-2, jumper wire 244, switch terminal 230-9, motor terminal 242, the motor running winding (not shown), motor terminal 240, switch terminal 230-8, jumper wire 246, switch terminals 230-3 and 230-6 to line terminal 234. Solenoid 172 is connected in parallel with the motor running winding terminals 240 and 242 so that it is energized simultaneously therewith.

When the door reaches its upper limit position, limit switch 214 is opened by the engagement of plunger 218 with cam 222 (Figure 1 to disrupt the circuit of the motor running and starting winding and the solenoid 172.

As previously indicated, switch 216 closes as soon as the bar 224 is lifted free of the floor or obstruction and remains closed until bar 224 is again lifted. Closure of the door is effected by shifting switch 230 to its lower position to electrically interconnect switch terminal 230-4 with 230-7, 230-5 with 230-8 and 230-6 with 230-9. It is to be noted that reversal of the direction of drive of motor 118 is produced by reversing the relation of motor running winding terminals 240 and 242 to the line terminals 232 and 234 from that when switch 230 is in upward position, while maintaining the same relation of motor starting winding terminals 236 and 238 to line terminals 232 and 234 in both positions of switch 230.

The circuit to the starting winding for closing door 20 is as follows: from line terminal 232, through switch terminals 230-4 and 230-7, limit switch 216 (now closed), switch terminals 230-8 and 230-5, motor terminal 236, the starting winding (not shown), motor terminal 238, and switch terminal 230-6, to the other line terminal 234.

The running winding circuit for door closure is as fol lows: from line terminal 232, through switch terminals 230-4 and 230-7, limit switch 216, switch terminal 230-8, motor terminal 240, the running winding (not shown) motor terminal 242, switch terminals 230-9 and 230-6 to the opposite line terminal 234. As before, solenoid 172 is connected in parallel with motor terminals 240 and 242 and is energized simultaneously therewith.

When the sensing bar 224 (Figures l and 4), strikes an obstruction or the building structure floor, limit switch 216 will return to the open position illustrated in Figure 5, to deenergize the motor 118 and the solenoid 172 to apply the brake and arrest further drive of the door.

A modified motor driving unit is illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. This motor drive unit is supported upon the door by a resiliently biased pivotal motor mount in the same manner as that of the previous embodiment, but for simplicity of illustration is shown as mounted upon a simple motor mounting plate 240'. A drive motor 252 is mounted centrally of the mounting plate 250 as by ma chine screws 25 5. Motor 252 may; as in the previous embodiment, be any suitable reversible electric motor of either alternating current or direct current design. A drive unit output shaft 256 is journalled for rotation by a pair of coaxially aligned pillow blocks 258 and 260 secured to the mounting plate 25% by machine screws 262. As in the previous embodiment, drive unit output shaft 256 is driven from the motor 252 through a non-overrunning drive train comprising a worm 264 mounted for rotation with the motor shaft (not shown in Figure 12) as by a set screw 266 and a worm wheel 26% in constant mesh therewith fixed to the drive unit output shaft 256 as by a set screw 270. A traction wheel 272 is secured to the end of the drive unit output shaft 256 outboard of the pillow block 258'by a pin 274.

A brake mechanism for the motor shaft is provided at the end of motor 252 opposite worm 264'as best illustrated' in Figure 11. A brake drum 275 is secured. for rotation with the shaft of motor 252 (see Figure 11) at its end and opposite worm 264 as by a pin 27 passing through the motor shaft 276 andla hub 280 of the brake drum 275. A brake band 282,v which at one end is secured to the mounting. plate 25% by abracket 284 and screws 254 surrounds a portion of the brake drum 275. Engagement and disengagement of the brake band 282' is connected to the plunger 2% of solenoid 286 and is normally resiliently biased into engagement with the brake drum 275 by a tension spring 292 stretched between a stud 294 fixed-to the core structure of solenoid 286 and an eye bolt 296 secured to an extension bracket 2% fixed to the end of plunger 290 opposite its connection to brake band 282. Solenoid 286 is secured to the base plate 250' by machine screws Sbil'and held in spaced relation thereto by spacers 302.

It isintended that solenoid 286 be energized and deenergized' simultaneously with the motor 252'so that the brake and motor drive are rendered effective alternatively. The control circuit of Figure 5 may be utilized to control this drive unit in the same manner described in reference to the previous embodiment. Upon initiation of the motor drive and energization of solenoid 286, the plunger 290 moves to the right as viewed in Figure 11 to disengage brake band 232 from the brake drum 275 and upon opening of the appropriate limit switch, the motor 2552 and the solenoid 236 will become deenergized to terminate the drive to output shaft 256 and arrest rotation of the motor shaft 276" by application of the brake. An upward movement limit switch 306 having a plunger 3493 is secured to the mounting plate 3 along the edge thereof adjacent the traction wheel 272 for coaction with a stationary cam alongth'e guide rail to terminate operation of the door operating device when the door reaches its upper limit in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

It will be obvious, to those skilled in the art, that, while this invention has been disclosed as applicable to a garage door formed of hingedly connected sections extending transversely of its path of movement and supported by a pair of guide rails for movement between a horizontal open position and a vertical closed position, it is equally applicable to all guideway supported doors whether the door be solid or formed of hinged sections. For example, if an. overhead door were" solid rather than sectioned, it could be guided in the guide rails by merely a pair of rollers on each edge and the motor drive unit mounted intermediate the rollers as it is between the pair of rollers 44 on the upper door section 22. Our invention is also equally applicable to the drive of a door depending from a single guidera-il track guiding its movement between open and closed positions whether the path of door movement be rectilinear or not.

We are aware that positively engaged'traction track and traction Wheel drives have been used on certain forms of door operating devices in the past. A drive of this general type is disclosed in United States Letters. Patent No. 1,878,796 issued Sept. 20, 1932 to F. L. Morse et al. as applied to a door mounted for reciprocation on a rectilinear path. The Morse device is limited in its applicability to a door mounted in. this manner and to a structure having sufficient over head space for the mounting of the motor drive unit. We have provided a greatly improved drive of this general type which is applicable to substantially all forms of doors supported by a guide way regardless of the presence or absence of space exterior to the door, economical to manufacture, readily installed, and safe to operate. If there is suflicient space within the building structure to mount a door upon guide Ways, the door operating device of this invention may be used. No additional space is required.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing descrip-- tion, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a door and a guideway therefor guiding movement of the door between an open position and a closed position: a door operating device for moving the door between these two positions comprising a traction track fixed longitudinally along a portion of said guideway; and a motor drive unit mounted on said door adjacent said guideway including a reversible motor, a traction wheel mounted for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor and resiliently biased into positive driving engagement with said traction track, and a drive mechanism operatively interconnecting saidmotor and said traction Wheel.

2. In combination with a door and a supporting guideway for guiding the movement of the door between an open position and a closed position: drive means for moving the door between these two positions comprising a traction track fixed longitudinally along said guideway; a motor drive unit mounted on said door adjacent said guideway and including a reversible motor, a traction wheel mounted for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor and normally disposed in constant meshing engagement with said traction track; a nonoverrunning drive mechanism operatively interconnecting said motor and said traction wheel effective to prevent movement of said door independently of said drive means; and means for disengaging said traction wheel from said traction track to permit independent operation of said door.

3. In combination with a door and a supporting guideway for guiding the movement of the door between an open position and a closed position: a door operating device for shifting the door along said guideway between these two positions comprising a traction track fixed longitudinally along said guideway; a motor drive unit mounted on said door adjacent said guideway including a reversible motor, a traction wheel mounted for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor and in constant meshing engagement with said traction track, a non-overrunning drive mechanism operatively interconnecting said motor and said traction wheel; a brake operable to inhibit the drive of said drive unit; and control means including a device for detecting the presence of an obstruction in the path of said door during closing movement to stop said motor and to engage said brake.

4. For use in a door operating device adapted to shift a door along a supporting guideway between an open position and a closed position and which includes a drive unit having a motor driven traction wheel mounted on the door adjacent the guideway: an attachment traction track assembly adapted for mounting on the guideway in positive driving engagement with said traction wheel comprising an elongated traction track longitudinally conformable to the longitudinal configuration of the door guideway; and a plurality of attaching means fixed to said track in longitudinally spaced relation therealong for securing said track to said guideway.

5. For use in a door operating device including a motor driven traction wheel adapted to drive a door which is guided for movement by a guideway between an open position and a closed position: a traction track assembly adapted for mounting on the guideway in positive driving engagement with said traction wheel comprising an elongated traction track longitudinally flexible adapting it to conform to the longitudinal configuration of one of the door guide rails and formed of a plurality of interconnected chain links; and a plurality of clamps fixed to said track in longitudinally spaced relation therealong for securing said track to said guideway, said clamps being of such construction that the track may be firmly fixed to the guideway without producing deformation thereof.

6. For use with a motor drive unit mounted on a door guided for movement between an open position and a closed position by a generally C-shaped guideway and including a motor driven traction wheel: an attachment traction track assembly adapted for mounting on the guideway in positive driving engagement with the traction wheel comprising an elongated traction track longitudinally conformable to the longitudinal configuration of the door guideway; and a plurality of clamps fixed to said track at longitudinally spaced points, each of said clamps being adapted to firmly grip said guideway rail without deformation thereof and comprising a pair of coacting, relatively movable clamp jaws together defining a C- shaped clamp having inwardly extending hook shaped ends for engaging the edges of the Cshaped guideway, and a clamping element for tightening said jaws against the guideway.

7. For use in a door operating device for shifting a door along a supporting guideway between a closed position and an open position which includes a traction track fixed longitudinally along a portion of the guideway: a motor drive unit adapted to be mounted on the door adjacent the traction track comprising a pivotal motor mount; a reversible motor fixedly mounted on said pivotal motor mount; a drive unit output shaft journalled for rotation on said pivotal motor mount about an axis fixed relative to said motor; a traction wheel fixed to said shaft and adapted for positively drivingly engaging the traction track; spring means for biasing said pivotal motor mount in a direction to resiliently maintain said traction wheel in driving engagement with said traction track; and a worm-wheel reduction drive train interconnecting said motor and said drive unit output shaft.

8. A traction track assembly for a garage door guided by a guide rail in its movement between a closed position and an open position and adapted for positive driving engagement by a powered traction wheel carried by the door comprising a longitudinally elongated, longitudinally flexible track section having traction wheel engaging formations spaced longitudinally thereof; mounting ears protruding from the opposite sides of said track section at longitudinally spaced intervals along said track section; substantially U-shaped clamp jaws secured to said mounting ears in spaced relation to one longitudinal face of said track section adapted to receive an edge at adjacent portions of the side faces of said guide rail; mating substantially U-shaped clamp jaws corresponding in number to said first mentioned clamp jaws and adapted to receive the opposite edg of said guide rail and adjacent portions of the side faces of said guide rail; and bolt and nut assemblies individual to each mating pair of said clamp jaws adapted to connect said mating pairs 12 of clamp jaws to each other and draw them together around said guide rail whereby said traction track may be secured to said guide rail in conforming relation to its longitudinal contour.

9. The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein the spaced relationship between said traction track and said first mentioned clamp jaws is obtained through suitably formed spacer blocks secured between said protruding ears and said clamp jaws.

10. A motor drive unit assembly for mounting on a garage door guided by a guide rail in its movement between a closed position and an open position and adapted for positive driving engagement with a traction track mounted adjacent said door comprising a mounting plate having at one end transversely spaced, upstanding supporting cars; a supporting plate journalled on said ears; a motor fixedly secured to said mounting plate and having a motor shaft extending from one end thereof; an output shaft and shaft journals supported by said mounting plate adjacent said one end of said motor; constantly meshing drive and driven gears secured respectively to said motor shaft and said output shaft to drivingly connect said shafts; a traction wheel secured to said output shaft in position to be engaged with said traction track; and resilient means connected between said base plate and said supporting plate to resiliently urge said supporting plate in a direction around its pivotal connection to said mounting plate to assure constant driving engagement between said traction wheel and traction track.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 together with brake means mounted on said support plate and motor shaft operable to selectively brake said motor shaft and brake control means mounted on said support plate and automatically operable to selectively actuate said brake means to alternately apply and release said brake as said motor is respectively deenergized and energized.

12 In combination with a door and a supporting guideway for guiding the movement of the door between an open position and a closed position: means for moving the door between these two positions comprising a traction track fixed longitudinally along said guide rail; a motor drive unit mounted on said door adjacent said guideway and including a reversible motor, a traction wheel jornalled for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor and in constant meshing engagement with said traction track, a non-overrunning drive mechanism operatively interconnecting said motor and said traction wheel; a brake adapted to inhibit the drive of said nonoverrunning drive mechanism; and control means actuating said motor and said brake alternatively, said control means comprising an electrically responsive actuator mechanically connected to said brake, a source of electrical power, a pair of alternatively operative parallel connected circuits each connected to said motor and to said electrically responsive actuator in parallel, a circuit interrupting device in each of said circuits, means operative to connect either of said circuits to said power source, means for actuating one of said circuit interrupting devices upon movement of said door to its open position, and feeler means adapted to detect an obstruction in the path of said door during its movement toward its closed position and operative upon contacting an obstruction to actuate the other of said circuit interrupting devices.

13. In combination with a door operating device including a motor driven traction wheel adapted to drive a door which is guided for movement by a guideway between an open position and a closed position: a traction track assembly adapted for mounting on the guideway in positive driving engagement with said traction Wheel comprising an elongated traction track longitudinally flexible adapting it to conform to the longitudinal configuration of one of the door guide rails and formed of a plurality of interconnected chain links; and a plurality of clamps fixed to said track in longitudinally spaced 13 relation therealong for securingsaid track to said guideway, said clamps being of such construction that the track may be firmly fixed to the guideway without producing deformation thereof.

14. In combination with a motor drive unit mounted on a door guide for movementbetween an open. position and a closed position by a generally C-shaped guideway and including a motor driven traction wheel: atraction track assembly adapted for mounting on the guideway in positive driving'engagement-Withthe traction wheel comprising an elongated traction track longitudinally conformab'le to the longitudinal configuration of the door guideway; and a plurality of clamps fixed to said track at longitudinally spaced points, each of'said clamps. being adapted to firmly grip said guideway rail without deformation thereof and comprising a pair of coacting, relatively movable clamp jaws together defining a C shaped clamp having inwardly extending hook shaped ends for engaging the edges of the C-shaped guideway, and a clamping element for tightening said jaws against the guideway.

15. In combination with a door operating device for shifting a door along a supporting guideway between a closed position and an open position which includes a traction track fixed longitudinally along a portion of the guideway: a motor drive unit adapted to be mounted on the door adjacent the traction track comprising a pivotal motor mount; a reversible motor fixedly mounted on said pivotal motor mount; a drive unit output shaft journalled for rotation on said pivotal motor mount about an axis fixed relative to said motor; a traction wheel fixed to said shaft and adapted for positively drivingly engaging the traction track; spring means for biasing said pivotal motor mount in a direction to resiliently maintain said traction wheel in driving engagement with said traction track; and a worm-wheel reduction drive train interconnecting said motor and said drive unit output shaft.

16. In combination with a door guided for movement by a supporting guideway between an open position and closed position and a traction track secured along a portion of the door guideway, a motor drive unit mounted on said door in positive driving engagement with said traction track and comprising a pivotal motor mount; a reversible motor mounted on said pivotal motor mount and having a motor shaft extending from the opposite ends of said motor; a drive unit output shaft journalled on said pivotal motor mount for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor; a traction wheel fixed to said drive unit output shaft in position to engage said traction track; a worm-wheel reduction drive train interconnecting one end of said motor shaft and said drive unit output shaft; brake means associated With the other end of said motor shaft for inhibiting rotation of said motor shaft; and means operable to render said brake means inoperative so long as said motor is energized.

17. In combination with a garage door guided by a guide rail in its movement between a closed position and an open position and a powered traction wheel carried by the door, a traction track assembly in positive driving engagement with said traction wheel and comprising a longitudinally elongated, longitudinally flexible track section having traction wheel engaging formations spaced longitudinally thereof; mounting ears protruding from the opposite sides of said track section at longitudinally spaced intervals along said track section; substantially U-shaped clamp jaws secured to said mounting ears in spaced relation to one longitudinal face of said track section adapted to receive an edge at adjacent portions of the side faces of said guide rail; mating substantially U-shaped clamp jaws corresponding in number to said first mentioned clamp jaws and adapted to receive the opposite edge of said guide rail and adjacent portions of the side faces of said guide rail; and bolt and nut assemblies individual to each mating pair of said clamp 14 jaws adapted to connect said mating p'airs of clamp jaws to each other and draw them. together around: said guide rail whereby said. traction track: may be secured tosaid guide rail in conforming relation to its longitudinal contour.

18. In combination with a garage door guided by a guide rail in its movement between a closed position and an open position and a traction tract mounted adjacent said door, a motor drive unit assembly mounted on said door in positive driving engagement with said traction track and comprising a mounting plate having at one end transversely spaced, upstanding supporting ears; a supporting plate journalled on said cars; a motor" fixedly secured to said mounting plate and having a motor shaft extending from one end thereof; an output shaft and shaft journals supported by said mounting plateadjacent said one end of said motor; constantly meshing drive and driven gears secured respectively to said motor shaft and said output shaft to drivingly connect said shafts; a traction wheel secured to said output shaft in position to be engaged with said traction track; and resilient means connected between said base plate and said supporting plate to resiliently urge said supporting plate in a direction around its pivotal connection to said mounting plate to assure constant driving engagement between said traction wheel and traction track.

19. In combination, an overhead door, a pair of guideways therefor supporting and guiding movement of the door between an open generally horizontal position and a closed generally vertical position, a door operating device for moving the door between said two positions comprising traction track defining means on and extending longitudinally along a portion of one of said guideways; a motor drive unit including a reversible motor, a traction wheel mounted for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor, and a drive mechanism operatively interconnecting said motor and said traction wheel; and means mounting said drive unit on said door and so positioning said traction wheel relative to said one guideway as to remain in constant positive driving engagement with said track defining means thereon throughout the path of movement of said door along said guideways.

20. The combination defined in claim 19 wherein said traction wheel is a toothed element and wherein said traction track defining means comprises means immovable relative to said guideway forming a rack engaged by said toothed element.

21. In combination with a door and supporting guideway for guiding the movement of the door between an open position and a closed position angularly related to said open position; means for moving the door between these two positions comprising traction track defining means on and extending longitudinally along said guideway; a motor drive unit including a reversible motor, a traction wheel journalled for rotation about an axis fixed relative to said motor, a non-overrunning drive mech anism operatively interconnecting said motor and said traction wheel and a brake adapted to inhibit drive of said non-overrunning mechanism; means mounting said drive unit on said door and so positioning said traction wheel relative to said guideway as to remain in constant positive driving engagement with said track defining means thereon throughout the path of movement of said door along said guideway; and control means actuating said motor and said brake alternatively, said control means comprising an electrically responsive actuator mechanically connected to said brake, a source of electrical power, a pair of alternatively operative parallel connected circuits each connected to said motor and to said electrically responsive actuator in parallel, a circuit interrupting device in each of said circuits, means operative to connect either of said circuits to said power source, means for actuating one of said circuit interrupting devices upon movement of said door to its open position, and feeler means adapted to detect an obstruction in the path of said door during its movement toward its closed position and operative upon contacting an obstruction to actuate the other of said circuit interrupting devices.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Cane Aug. 1, Hansen May 11, Plunkett July 10, Wagner Jan. 14, Goldman Feb. 4, Blodgett Aug. 11, Morse June 14, Nunez July 19, Morse et a1. Sept. 20,

16 Talen Sept. 19, Simonton Dec. 19, Beeman et a1. Dec. 19, Blodgett June 12, Peelle July 21, McCloud Feb. 9, Greegor et al Nov. 12, Thomas et a1 Sept. 15, Vallen June 12, Konter May 28, Jenkins Dec. 5, Johanson Sept. 25, Rohrman Nov. 13, Verdier Feb. 10, Martin Feb. 17, 

